Clearwater County, Alberta


Clearwater County is a municipal district in west central Alberta, Canada in Division No. 9. Its northwest boundary is the Brazeau River. The municipal office is located in the Town of Rocky Mountain House. The county has a land area of and comprises close to 99% of Census Division No. 9's land area of. Although the territory excluded is rather small in geographical area, it comprises the major population centre of Rocky Mountain House, which has one-third of Division No. 9's population, in addition to the communities of Burnstick Lake and three Indian reserves. Clearwater County's 2021 census population was 11,865, which was prior to amalgamation with Caroline in 2025.

History

The Municipal District of Clearwater No. 9 was incorporated as a municipal district from Improvement District No. 10 on January 1, 1985. Its name was changed to Clearwater County on July 1, 2000. Clearwater County amalgamated with the Village of Caroline to form a new municipality on January 1, 2025, retaining the name "Clearwater County". Caroline became a hamlet in the new municipality.

Geography

Communities and localities


The following urban municipalities are surrounded by Clearwater County.
;Cities
  • none
;Towns
;Villages
  • none
;Summer villages
The following hamlets are located within Clearwater County.
;hamlets in Alberta|Hamlets]
The following localities are located within Clearwater County.
;Localities
  • Alexo
  • Ancona
  • Baptiste River
  • Bingley
  • Brazeau
  • Brower Subdivision
  • Butte
  • Carlos
  • Chedderville
  • Clearwater Subdivision
  • Cline River
  • Cline Settlement
  • Codner
  • Congresbury
  • Crammond
  • Crimson Lake
  • Dovercourt
  • Evergreen
  • Ferrier
  • Ferrier Acres Trailer Court
  • Garth
  • Goldeye
  • Gray Subdivision
  • Harlech
  • Horburg
  • Improvement District No. 10
  • James River Bridge
  • Lochearn
  • Martins Trailer Court
  • Morrish Subdivision
  • Oras
  • Pinewoods Estates
  • Ricinus
  • Saunders
  • Stauffer
  • Stolberg
  • Strachan
  • Ullin
  • Vetchland
  • Westerner Trailer Court
  • Woodland Estates
  • Ya Ha Tinda Ranch

;Other places
Phoenix, a former coal mining community between Nordegg and Rocky Mountain House, is also located within Clearwater County.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Clearwater County had a population of 11,865 living in 4,817 of its 5,605 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 11,947. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2021.
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Clearwater County had a population of 11,947 living in 4,699 of its 5,486 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 12,278. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2016.

Economy

The economy of the county is based on agriculture, oil and gas and forestry, with tourism increasing in importance in recent years.

Attractions